Deacon Robert Braun lights a charcoal briquette used for the burning of incense prior to the beginning of the Easter Vigil April 3, 2021, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport, N.Y., amid the coronavirus pandemic. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
WASHINGTON (CNS) Based on responses to a questionnaire sent to all U.S. dioceses, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate estimates there are about 19,000 deacons in the United States today.
The number, though, is dropping, mirroring trends seen in religious life and the priesthood for the past half-century. Responding offices reported that 410 deacons retired from active ministry and 378 died. Another 587 were ordained to the permanent diaconate during 2020, said the report, A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate: A Study for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued June 1. The trend goes back to at least 2014.
Former president George W. Bush / Joseph August/Shutterstock
Washington D.C., Jun 3, 2021 / 13:10 pm (CNA).
Former President George W. Bush recently donated $100,000 to Catholic Charities USA in recognition of the group’s work with immigrants an.
Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents retreat planned
Special to the Globe-News
Friday, May 28, is the deadline to register for the second Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents Weekend being offered by the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center and the Family Life Ministry office of the Diocese of Amarillo.
The retreat, which will be conducted in English, is set for Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 at the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center, 2100 N. Spring St.
The weekend retreat is for anyone who has lost a child of any age, by any cause, no matter how long ago, according to James Schulte, director of the Family Life Ministry office for the Diocese of Amarillo.
Rome university reverses decision to honor US priest for pro-life work
Trump-supporting Priests for Life director says some bishops don t like our work
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Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. (Photo: Wikipedia)
For a variety of reasons, especially in relation to the political situation in the United States, the Legionaries of Christ university in Rome will not honor Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said the head of the university s bioethics faculty.
The bioethics department of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum had announced Jan. 7 on the university s website that it would give Father Pavone its A Life for Life Award and that a Switzerland-based association would provide a monetary prize to recognize and support Father Pavone s mission.